Page 63 of Olivia

Stark sat with his back against the headboard, holding her between his legs. His heat around her was a comfort as she lost herself to waves of pain.

“This will happen too quickly for pain meds to kick in,” Dr. Pan told her calmly. “So, you’ll be able to brag to your friends about your natural birth.”

“Wh-what?” Olivia asked, as another wave of pain crashed through her.

“Almost there,” Dr. Pan replied cheerfully. “Get ready to push.”

The next few minutes were filled with agony and excitement. Stark held her, murmuring encouragement and holding her hair out of her face, as Dr. Pan barked out instructions.

And then…

The pain broke, giving way to the most glorious sound, the watery cries of a brand new little being.

“It’s a boy,” Dr. Pan said softly, as she reverently placed the little bundle in Olivia’s arms.

Olivia looked down at that sweet little face, knowing the memory would be etched in her mind forever. The love she felt was overwhelming - an ocean of joy she could never escape, nor would she want to.

“He’s beautiful,” Stark murmured.

He was. Their son had moss-green skin and tiny horn nubs with a tuft of silky blonde hair between them. He wrapped his little fist around Olivia’s finger and she felt her heart squeeze like it was too full.

“His hair is yellow,” Stark noticed, sounding astounded.

“Just like mine,” Olivia said, nodding. “I’m glad he looks a little like me.”

“Your hair is pink,” Stark retorted.

“That’s a modification,” she laughed.

The baby made a tiny squeaking sound.

“I think he wants to nurse,” Olivia said worriedly, realizing she didn’t know how.

“Good idea,” Dr. Pan said. “If it’s okay, I’ll sit with you and show you.”

Letting out a sigh of relief, Olivia realized their little family was in good hands. She may have become a mother faster than she could have dreamed, but everything was going to be just fine.

Stark pressed his lips to the crown of her head and she closed her eyes for a moment, with her son in her embrace and her mate’s arms around her, feeling that she was truly at home.

23

OLIVIA

Six months later, Olivia and Stark walked along the beach of the Midsummer Fertility Center.

They had gone home to Stark’s city penthouse once they were on their feet after baby Kypp’s birth. And while Stark assured Olivia that she didn’t have to work now, she found herself working away furiously anyway, as soon as Kypp started taking real naps.

Before they ever met, she had been working on something special for many years. But only now did she have the resources she needed to bring it to life. Once the officials had tracked down the man who’d actually extorted Stark for the million credits, Stark had put a hundred percent of that recovered money into her project, telling her that it should have been hers to begin with.

“Are you excited?” Stark asked her.

“Yes,” she told him, smiling up at the big Maltaffian warrior with the baby strapped to his chest.

Saving Olivia and little Breelyx had changed something in him, healed him somehow. She knew that he’dalways felt guilt over the lives he couldn’t save, even if it wasn’t his fault.

She was glad that Stark felt some relief now. He surely deserved it.

And his men were happy too.

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